Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving And Authorizing The Final Renewal Of The Agreement With Circuit Transit Inc., Formally Known As The Free Ride, For Circulator Services Under The Same Terms And Conditions In An Estimated Annual Amount Of $885,360.00.
Strategic Plan Focus
Infrastructure & Facilities
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Resolution.
Explanation:
In partnership with the CRA, in 2018 the City Commission authorized execution of an agreement with Free Ride, now known as Circuit Transit Inc. (R-2018-335 / R-CRA-2019-38) in the amount of $885,360.00. Circuit Transit (“Circuit”) provides patrons transportation services to and from Downtown Hollywood, Hollywood Beach, the City’s parking garages, and recently expanded the route to City Hall.
Since operating the service, Circuit has provided over 197,288 rides to more than 324,889 passengers. Most recent data from March and April 2022 shows that Circuit averages 250 rides per day with ridership of more than 16,000 passengers per month. This is the highest ridership since starting the program.
In mid-March 2021 the fee of $1 per rider was implemented with flag down rides continuing to be free as they are “just along for the ride”. The flag down rider can hop on/off along the way on the route the app user requests. There has been no reduction in ridership due to the fee addition per rider.
Recently, the City received a request to extend Circuit service to the entry gates at the Westlake Village development and in cooperation with the Circuit, created a pilot project to the development last month. It appears that the stop is meeting a demand at that location.
The City and CRA staff jointly recommend renewal of the Circuit agreement for one year under the same terms and conditions, as authorized in the Agreement. Those terms and conditions have the City responsible for 1/3 and the CRA responsible for 2/3 of the annual amount.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for this agreement will be shared as follows:
CRA will contribute 2/3 of the costs or approximately $590,240.00 from account numbers 163.638504.55200.548060.000000.000.000 and 166.668602.55200.548060.000000.000.000.
The City will contribute the remaining 1/3 of the cost or approximately $295,120.00 which is available in account number 336.140201.54100.531170.000000.000.000
The contract calls for Circuit Transit, Inc. to pay the City fifty percent of net advertising revenue generated from ad placements on the Circulator vehicles and one hundred percent of Fare Revenues generated. These funds are credited proportionately to all accounts contributing to the payment of the contract.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Azita Behmardi, P.E., City Engineer
Shiv Newaldass, Director of Development Services
Gus Zambrano, AICP, Assistant City Manager/Sustainable Development